Alopecia Areata: A Multifactorial Autoimmune Condition

December 2018 in “ Journal of autoimmunity ”

Theodoros Simakou, John Butcher, S. Reid, Fiona L. Henriquez

alopecia areata autoimmune disease patchy hair loss complete baldness lymphocytic infiltration hair follicles IFN-γ IgG antibodies autoimmune disorders infections inflammation genetic factors environmental factors immune responses hair loss baldness immune system

Studysummary This review discusses genetic and environmental factors contributing to autoimmunity in alopecia areata and reports no new clinical findings, emphasizing the need for further study on its aetiology and pathophysiology.

Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

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research High-Throughput T Cell Receptor Sequencing Identifies Clonally Expanded CD8+ T Cell Populations in Alopecia Areata

46 citations , October 2018 in “JCI insight”

In this study, the researchers found that treatment with the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib in alopecia areata patients may reduce clonal CD8+ T cell expansions but does not eliminate them entirely, which could contribute to disease relapse.

research Treatment of Alopecia Universalis with Topical Janus Kinase Inhibitors – A Double Blind, Placebo, and Active Controlled Pilot Study

49 citations , August 2018 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

In this phase I study, partial hair regrowth was observed in patients with alopecia universalis using topical JAK inhibitors, though more research is needed to confirm potential as a treatment alternative to clobetasol.

Balance of Tofacitinib Efficacy and Disease Flare in the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

research Balance of Tofacitinib Efficacy and Disease Flare in the Treatment of Alopecia Universalis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

9 citations , August 2018 in “JAAD Case Reports”

This article discusses alopecia areata, highlighting its autoimmune nature and the lack of FDA-approved treatments, without providing new research findings.

research Role of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

53 citations , July 2018 in “Drug design, development and therapy”

This review summarizes existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors for treating alopecia areata and emphasizes the need for improved topical formulations.

research Emerging Drugs for Alopecia Areata: JAK Inhibitors

20 citations , January 2018 in “Expert opinion on emerging drugs”

This review discusses the potential of Janus Kinase inhibitors for treating alopecia areata and other forms of alopecia, highlighting the need for further research on their long-term safety and optimal formulation.

research Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Revisited: The Key to Alopecia Areata Management

102 citations , December 2017 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

This review discusses the role of immune privilege collapse in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata, emphasizing the potential for therapeutic manipulation of hair bulb immune privilege to offer new treatment options, and reports no new results.

research Effective Use of Ustekinumab in a Patient with Concomitant Psoriasis, Vitiligo, and Alopecia Areata

20 citations , November 2017 in “JAAD case reports”

This case report describes a patient with psoriasis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata who showed significant improvement in all conditions after treatment with ustekinumab, suggesting potential benefits of IL-12/23 blockade for these autoimmune diseases.

research Efficacy of Topical Tofacitinib in Promoting Hair Growth in Non-Scarring Alopecia: Possible Mechanism via VEGF Induction

27 citations , September 2017 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

In this study, topical tofacitinib significantly increased hair regrowth in mice compared to minoxidil or vehicle, potentially due to elevated VEGF levels and reduced inflammation.

research Treatment of Alopecia Areata With Tofacitinib

78 citations , March 2017 in “JAMA Dermatology”

Tofacitinib helped regrow hair in people with severe alopecia, but side effects occurred and benefits stopped after treatment ended.

research Persistently Curly Hair Phenotype With the Use of Nivolumab for Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

19 citations , October 2016 in “Journal of oncology pharmacy practice”

In this study, the first case of a persistent curly hair phenotype was reported with nivolumab treatment in a patient with metastatic squamous cell lung cancer.

research Exploring the Brain-Skin Connection: Leads and Lessons from the Hair Follicle

30 citations , October 2016 in “Current research in translational medicine”

This essay reviews the role of human scalp hair follicles in the "brain-skin connection," highlighting their dual function as targets and sources of neurohormones, without reporting new experimental results.

research Oral Ruxolitinib Induces Hair Regrowth in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata

196 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

This study explored the effectiveness of the oral JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib in treating patients with moderate-to-severe alopecia areata, building on prior success with JAK inhibitors in mice, but results are not reported in this abstract.

research Stress-Related Skin Disorders

67 citations , July 2016 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders”

This review discusses the complex relationship between stress and various skin conditions, highlighting the role of the skin in the stress response and the brain-skin communication pathways, but reports no new research findings.

research Treatment of an Alopecia Areata Patient with Tofacitinib Results in Regrowth of Hair and Changes in Serum and Skin Biomarkers

70 citations , April 2016 in “Experimental Dermatology”

In this study, oral tofacitinib treatment led to significant hair regrowth and changes in skin and blood biomarkers in a patient with alopecia areata.

research Clinical Efficacy of Diphenylcyclopropenone in Alopecia Areata: Retrospective Data Analysis of 50 Patients

41 citations , November 2015 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

This study found that diphenylcyclopropenone therapy resulted in over 50% hair regrowth in 71% of alopecia totalis patients, with a significant relapse association with thyroid disease, suggesting treatment could be viable but should continue for at least two years.

research Pharmacologic Inhibition of JAK-STAT Signaling Promotes Hair Growth

159 citations , October 2015 in “Science Advances”

This study observed that applying JAK-STAT pathway inhibitors to mouse and human skin led to rapid hair growth by inducing the anagen phase of hair follicles.

research Imbalance of T-Helper 17 and Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Alopecia Areata

62 citations , June 2015 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

This study found that patients with alopecia areata had higher levels of Th17 cells and lower levels of regulatory T cells compared to healthy controls, suggesting an immune imbalance in these patients.

research Alopecia Secondary to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Therapy

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This study reports two cases of alopecia associated with anti-TNF therapy, highlighting a new entity combining features of alopecia areata and psoriatic alopecia.

research Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Alopecia Areata: Missing Link?

45 citations , December 2014 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that plasmacytoid dendritic cells are central to the pathogenesis of alopecia areata, suggesting they may help differentiate it from trichotillomania and androgenetic alopecia.

research Alopecia Areata Is Driven by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Is Reversed by JAK Inhibition

701 citations , August 2014 in “Nature medicine”

This study found that JAK inhibitors promote hair regrowth in both mice and human alopecia areata cases by blocking key immune pathways involved in disease development.

research Association Between Interleukin 18 Polymorphisms and Alopecia Areata in Koreans

22 citations , January 2014 in “Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research”

In this study, researchers found that specific IL18 genetic variants may be linked to increased susceptibility to alopecia areata in a Korean population.

Preferential Recognition of Hydroxyl Radical-Modified Superoxide Dismutase by Circulating Autoantibodies in Patients with Alopecia Areata

research Preferential Recognition of Hydroxyl Radical-Modified Superoxide Dismutase by Circulating Autoantibodies in Patients with Alopecia Areata

12 citations , January 2014 in “Annals of Dermatology”

This study found an association between hydroxyl radical-modified SOD and alopecia areata, suggesting these modifications may lead to antibody induction in the condition.

research The Genetic Architecture of Alopecia Areata

23 citations , December 2013 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

This study highlights rapid advances in alopecia areata treatment following the identification of genetic variants associated with increased disease risk, suggesting potential for precision medicine approaches.

research Current Treatment of Alopecia Areata

71 citations , December 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

This review discusses various treatments for alopecia areata, highlighting their limitations and individualized approach, and reports no new clinical results.

research Overview of Alopecia Areata

110 citations , December 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings”

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research The Safety and Efficacy of Diphencyprone for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Children

37 citations , September 2012 in “Archives of dermatology”

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research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

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research Type 1 Interferon Signature in the Scalp Lesions of Alopecia Areata

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research Topical Immunotherapy in Alopecia Areata

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research Probing the Effects of Stress Mediators on the Human Hair Follicle

159 citations , November 2007 in “American Journal of Pathology”

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research Lymphocytes, Neuropeptides, And Genes Involved In Alopecia Areata

286 citations , August 2007 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation”

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research Dietary Soy Oil Content and Soy-Derived Phytoestrogen Genistein Increase Resistance to Alopecia Areata Onset in C3H/HeJ Mice

61 citations , February 2003 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This study found that increasing dietary soy oil content reduced alopecia areata development in C3H/HeJ mice, though genistein injection showed no significant effect.

research Role of the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) Gene in Alopecia Areata: Strong Association of a Potentially Functional AIRE Polymorphism With Alopecia Universalis

86 citations , December 2002 in “Tissue Antigens”

In this study, researchers found that the AIRE G961C variant is a significant risk factor for severe alopecia areata and early-onset cases, particularly in patients with alopecia universalis.

research Gene Array Profiling and Immunomodulation Studies Define a Cell-Mediated Immune Response Underlying the Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata in a Mouse Model and Humans

114 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is caused by an immune response, and targeting immune cells might help treat it.

research Experimental Induction of Alopecia Areata-Like Hair Loss in C3H/HeJ Mice Using Full-Thickness Skin Grafts

131 citations , November 1998 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study observed that alopecia areata can be induced and serially transferred in C3H/HeJ mice using skin grafts, providing a useful model for studying the disease in humans.

research Hair Loss After Routine Immunizations

87 citations , October 1997 in “JAMA”

This case series suggests a possible, though likely very rare, association between vaccinations and hair loss, calling for further research in more defined populations.

research Cytokines and Growth Factors Influence Hair Growth In Vitro: Possible Implications for the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alopecia Areata

91 citations , March 1996 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

This study concluded that cytokines and growth factors significantly regulate hair growth in vitro, with some completely inhibiting growth, such as EGF and TNFα.